psychologist near me
Old habits die hard, but when it comes to bad ones, die they must. Bad habits suck your time and energy. They make it impossible to achieve your goals and they are mentally and physically toxic. When you’re trying to move away from certain behaviors, there are ways to set yourself up for success. Identify Your Reason Habits are hard to break, so you need something to motivate you to break one. Before you take action, think…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner I’m not good enough. I’m unlovable. I’m worthless. No one wants to believe these things. But they are common core beliefs. Dr. Greensberger and Dr. Padesky state that “core beliefs are absolute statements about ourselves, others or the world.” Core beliefs, they say, are “the deepest level of cognition.” In short, core beliefs are powerful. They dictate our emotions and actions, often without our awareness. These beliefs are created in childhood and…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Everyone goes into their first marriage expecting it to be their last, yet in today’s society, the terms “divorce” and “blended family” (or “stepfamily”) are not foreign concepts. A blended family or stepfamily forms when you and your partner merge your lives together with children from one or both of your previous marriages. Knowing there are many difficulties you and your family may face, it can be incredibly intimidating and…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Empathy is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with others. Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, wrote, “Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” The experience of stepping into someone else’s shoes without judgment and letting ourselves feel what they’re feeling is vital to experiencing intimacy in our relationships. But often it…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Intimate relationships can bring so much light and happiness into our lives, but when they are unhealthy or come to an end, you may feel alone and empty. A quick fix that comes to mind when the relationship causes you to feel this way may be to invest a new love interest. Although going from one relationship to the next may bring you temporary love, excitement, and happiness, is it actually…
Read MoreSaint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and it happens to fall on a Saturday this year. Saint Patrick’s Day in Chicago can be a fun event to be part of as the city brings everyone together turning the river green and playing Irish music at the local restaurants. It can also be a holiday heavily focused on drinking copious amounts of alcohol. While some may consider themselves to be social drinkers and can enjoy having…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner “I don’t know what to say.” “I don’t want to make it worse.” Over the past week, I’ve heard from parents, teachers, and other adults asking how to talk to children about the school shooting in Florida. These discussions can be difficult for adults and children, but they’re vital. As adults, we need to know what the children in our lives are thinking and feeling in order to provide them with emotional…
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Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT, Financial Therapist, Owner, Symmetry Counseling As therapists, we frequently work with clients who engage in a lot of negative thinking patterns. Part of providing clients with cognitive behavioral therapy is to help them deconstruct these patterns and begin to look at events more realistically. Listed below are some negative thinking traps that can befall all of us from time to time. Are you guilty of engaging in any of the following negative…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Do you struggle to incorporate new behaviors into your lifestyle? Does it sometimes seem impossible to change your established routines? If so, you’re not alone. Many people find it extremely challenging to add new behaviors into their daily lives. A former client of mine set a goal of going to the gym three mornings a week. After four weeks, this client had not gone to the gym even once. I could hear…
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As parents, loved ones, and caregivers, there is the natural desire to protect children. When difficult life events happen, such as the death of a family member, friend, pet, or peer finding the words to explain death to a child can be difficult. Of course, this is a difficult topic for adults, as well. So, what do you share with your children? First, you may wonder if your child is aware that someone important has died. The…
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